well let me start by saying .. the Map Illusion is purely accidental .. I only noticed it after I posted it and went back and added the star in an update .. the map is an illusion slightly skewed the way things get in a surreal world ..

But basically you have the USA with the barbed-wire forming the lower border with Mexico,The grid of the chain link fence looks like the grid of states, The Butterfly Design top left,represents Alaska large and far to the North Above, with .. The Canadian border and the Great North West Territory, marked by the line of Pine trees, (middle Top)The wheat shaft is Florida at the base and the Mississippi River at the top (Surreal),The Sun/Moon/Bird/Angel Design top right) helps create an illusion of the Great Lakes .. the "Wings" being Erie and Ontario, place the star for my farm ..

Also .. the wheat stalk represents family .. and history .. and also reminds us we are only seasonal .. our bounty will be consumed and feed the future .. it also reminds us we are bound to the earth .. rooted in Nature ..

This .. the map .. is all an accidental illusion the Drawing was designed .. with the concept "Boundries" .. not "Borders" as I would have titled it had I intended this interpretation .. :thumb329150140:As I said this piece started out to explore Borders .. a Horizon Line .. A Fence Line (curved at bottom) .. the moutains in the distance .. a Sun / Moon with a Cloud / Figure .. the wheat stalk .. actually a cross-hatch that evolved as the Savant took over .. 1st sketch about 30 seconds .. 2nd Sketch .. about 2 minutes .. then the magic began .. I added the chain link fence .. this originaly had the texture of the wheat .. more of an extension of a simple grid .. and the bottom fence became the strand of Barbed-Wire as intended .. the drawing remained unbalanced at this point needing something in the upper left .. I had intended to put a clump of pine trees here .. 3 trees .. but I ended up erasing and then the shadows of the lines gave me the idea of a caged butterfly made from the fencing .. woven from .. to this point about a half hour .. this is the roughed final image

Next comes the detailing the smoothing of edges and the flow .. the lower right corner remains empty .. almost screaming for something .. I get an uneasiness when I look at it .. like it needs something .. the Wheat Stalk forms another illusion here a fence in profile .. to be jumped .. and the angel / devil / spirit with the sun beckons you to follow .. to jump the fence is to land in the unknown .. the Barbed Wire represents the discipline imposed by society .. the grid of the chain-link fence shows the diversity of the micro-universes that mesh together to form network framework of society .. and the butterfly .. woven from the fencing and barbs .. struggles to be free .. thinks it is free .. but is forever bound to its nature .. and caged .. bounded by its dependance on others .. a leap of faith is required .. where no answer can be gleaned in advance .. to explore the realms of the unknown .. Notice a very subtle design reenforced throughout the piece .. Hands .. caring hand .. griping hands .. supporting hands .. praying hands ..and hearts .. the illusion of hearts .. half hearts and flows that trick the eye into seeing hearts .. this reminds us that the boundaries are erected out of love to secure and protect .. in particular at the base of the butterfly a Hand the thumb on top, four fingers curled in toward the palm holding supporting the butterfly at the base ..

I finally added the pine trees to the distant mountain horizon .. as a goal boundary .. enlightenment .. maybe

Ralph

So to some it up this piece is about boundaries .. the ones created by society .. the ones created by our Culture, Religion, and Family, the boundaries we make for ourselves .. the cages we chose to live in .. and the fear associated with crossing boundries

.. hope this gives you a fuller understanding of my concept for the piece

furthermore the Chain-link fence can be seen as a "Basket of Eggs" or eggs in a carton ..also note that the hand that is lifting the butterfly out of the nest is attached to an arm .. that runs back to the sun .. angel